My '91 Hot Hatch Progress Thread

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I don't post here much, but I do read a lot of the threads and find the search very useful. So now that I am finally getting some free time to work on the Festiva I thought I would share some progress on my "Hot Hatch". Like Jeremy Clarkson I too have always liked little cars and since the hot hatches I like are all sold overseas I figured I'd make my own.

It all started with this....



Just last week I finally got around to doing the Aspire brake swap which included KYB struts and lowering springs from FMS. Rims are a 13" base model Escort steel rim wearing Nexen CP641's in 185/60R13's. No rubbing issues and a combination of the wide tires and lowered stance makes the car look good. =)



This week I will be doing my interior swap, I have a complete interior from an '89 LX that I am putting in. This evening after work I was able to do both door panels, looking forward to finishing since I have no interior plastics or carpet in the car right now.





That's all I have for tonight, I'll post some more pics of some of my other mods tomorrow.

[spiko]

Looking good

Keep us updated!

[sipderdoc]

great .. feel free to upload your photos and your progress in your Festy

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A few more pics...

Here is what the interior currently looks like...







Hopefully I'll get the carpet and the LX seats cleaned today and have them installed by tomorrow. Also I have done the rear wiper mod and I have a dock on the dash for my iPhone.





Other things that I have done include adding intermittent wipers, power mirrors, tinted windows, a vw style radio antenna, and air conditioning.

[wybnrml]

Hopefully I'll get the carpet and the LX seats cleaned today and have them installed by tomorrow.

I would recommend that you take the seat covers off the seat to clean them. I took the seat covers off the seat and cleaned them with some laundry detergent, they came out looking like brand new.

[JumboShrimp]

Looks awesome man, keep up the good work!

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Just a little update, I pretty much have all of the interior in now, I just need to finish the headliner and re-cover the cargo cover.

Also I wanted to share some pics of my new 12v accessory plugs. I wanted to mount my gps in the Festiva but didn't want cords hanging down the front of the dash.









Also today at the u-pull it I managed to find a white intermittent wiper stalk. =)

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And a few pics of the interior....









I went with an LX interior from an '89 Festiva mostly so I could get the head rest seats and get rid of those automatic seat belts. I had the front belts from the '89 but found they locked up a lot so I managed to find a good set from a '96 Aspire and they work perfectly. The carpet is really good, just need to vacuum it again and the seats I will go over again with a portable upholstery cleaner.

I painted the pillar covers with a Krylon Fusion Satin Black and I plan on doing the headliner and sun visors in black as well. I think it'll match the black in the seats quite well.

[lanemeyer14]

Good idea with the accessory plugs! I might have to steal that one!

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Another step completed, I installed factory a/c from another Festiva and put in all new o rings as well. Today I picked up the car from my mechanic and he retrofitted the system to accept R-134 and now I have working, cold a/c in my Festiva.

[Pu241]

Yeah, great idea using the clock delete for 12V access!

[92festie]

hey where did you get that antenna?? I've seen 'em on newer vdubs and always wanted to try and see if it would work. Btw nice job on the interior!!

[Switch]

The antenna was an ebay special, bought it shortly after I got the car.

Thanks for the comments about the interior, its coming along nicely. All I have is to finish the headliner (with a new console) and it will be done. Also today I took a little time to work on my third brake light mod.



I did the rear wiper mod and while I like the mod I don't like how the wiper arm blocks the third brake light. And since the factory third brake light seems a little dim, I figured I would move it up and make it a little brighter.

[hofficergrover]

Mine was blocked to so i just removed it since it isn't illegal to not have one if car was made before 95 then it is mandatory to have it. I like the look of them with out it.

[skimsucka]

wow awesome job man loving everything your doing so far! nice and clean definatly need a short write up of the brake light what its from how did you mount .